Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program

The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) awards grants to Pennsylvania farmers to install best management practices (BMPs) on their farms that reduce pollution from entering streams and waterways.

In July of 2022, the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) was created through the Clean Streams Fund. The purpose of the program is to provide financial and technical assistance for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural operations in the Commonwealth, as authorized under § 4(7) of the Conservation District Law (3 P.S. § 852(7)).

ACAP provides financial and technical assistance for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural operations within the Commonwealth. ACAP is administered by the State Conservation Commission and delegated to participating conservation districts for local implementation of the program.

ACAP was dedicated $154 million from the Clean Streams Fund to reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution in Commonwealth streams, rivers and waterbodies. SCC is required to allocate ACAP funding to participating county conservation districts based on written apportionment criteria developed by the SCC that is focused on preventing nutrient and sediment pollution. The SCC's apportionment criteria must consider:

• Agriculturally Impaired Stream Miles
• Number of Cropland Acres
• Number of Farms
• Number of Livestock and Poultry
• Other criteria established by SCC

Guidelines & Uses
When evaluating applications for eligible projects under ACAP, a participating conservation district will give priority to complete applications based upon the following criteria:

• BMP(s) funded meets the goals of any applicable WIP or CAP plan
• BMP is part of a conservation plan or AG E&S plan and a manure management or nutrient management plan. Development of such plans shall be included in the application if not yet developed prior to the application.
• Priority given to BMPs that implement best management practices for control of nitrogen or phosphorus or sediment.
• All Animal Concentration Areas (ACAs) on the farm must be treated to abate storm water runoff, loss of sediment, loss of nutrients from the ACA, or the implementation of such BMPs shall be included in an application for funds.
• Proximity to surface waters, public drinking water sources or karst geology with underground drainage systems or open sinkholes.
• The project must meet the design and construction standards established by the commission.
• Any other criteria considered by the conservation district, as applicable, and approved by the commission.

For more information, please contact the Conservation District at 717-436-8953, extension 5 or via email at juniatccd@juniataccd.org. Click HERE for a application.

Resources:
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program:
https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/StateConservationCommission/ACAP/Pages/default.aspx
State Conservation Commission Best Management Practices (BMPs)
https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/StateConservationCommission/ACAP/Documents/SCC%20BMP%20List%20v1.18.23.pdf